Journey dev might become a multi-project studio

ThatGameCompany is the immensely talented team behind Flow, Flower, and Journey, three of the PS3’s best, standout digital titles. Speaking yesterday at a GDC roundtable, via Games Industry, ThatGameCompany’s studio manager, Sunni Pavlovic, admitted that, moving forward, the developer is thinking of splitting into two teams, taking on multiple, simultaneous projects.

In the wake of having grown considerably in the build up of their current, un-announced project, Pavlovic acknowledged the problem facing the studio:

“We’re thinking when this game comes out, we’re going to have to go back to the drawing board to come up with the next game and there’s going to be this long iteration and pre-production time… How do you keep all these people busy? So maybe for the first time we’re going to have a multi-project studio, whereas right now it’s like, ‘This is the team for the game, and that’s that.’ That’s how we’ve addressed it in the past and what we’re thinking going forward.”

Lay-offs and downsizing in the game’s industry, following each project, is a common and unfortunate effect of development. But hearing a studio put the well being of their employees first is certainly up lifting.

What do you think of the idea of twice as many ThatGameCompany games in the years to come? Let us know in the comments. And for all the news about gaming as we march forward into the great uncertain future, keep checking back here on Gamespresso.

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Sean is a simple man who enjoys a good game, a good story, and the chance to talk about both. That said, he also honestly believes video games have the potential to be the greatest pinnacle of storytelling ever, so there's that... Follow him on Twitter @SeanTimmothy